BARCLAYS will move its headquarters to Amster­dam if its planned £80billion merger with ABN Amro, Holland’s biggest bank, goes ahead, it said yesterday.

The two banks, which have entered exclusive talks on a tie-up, said the enlarged group would have its main listing on the London Stock Exchange and a secondary listing on Euronext in Amsterdam.

Talks are under way with authorities in both cities about the Dutch Central Bank acting as lead regulator for the combined group.

Setting out more details of the deal, announced Mon­day, the banks said Barclays chief John Varley would be chief executive with a chairman nominated by ABN.

Trade union Amicus said it was seeking assurances that it would not result in job losses in the UK.

Meanwhile, a key British investor in ABN Amro said the talks should not prevent it considering other offers.

The Children’s Invest­ment Fund, which has been pressing for a break-up or sale of ABN, said: “We hope the exclusivity granted to Bar­clays will not prevent the board of ABN Amro from employing a process that considers bids by other credible institutions.”